Homeless man's dog saved - by Lisa L. Colangelo, New York Daily News - Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, Inc. - Working with the City of New York to promote dog and cat adoption and spay and neuter programs to make New York a no-kill city.

Home > The Alliance in the News > 2005 Alliance News Items > Homeless man's dog saved

by Lisa L. Colangelo, New York Daily News

Monday, April 11, 2005

Joe Mora was sitting in his Long Island City home last December watching television — his Chihuahua, Miles, by his side — when he saw the sad story of a homeless man who froze to death under the Queensboro Bridge.

Then Mora saw the man's heartbroken black-and-white pooch wandering around the Jackson Ave. site where the two had shared a cardboard box.

"They kept showing the dog," said Mora, a well-known animal rescuer in western Queens. "I said, 'Oh, this is right in my neighborhood.' I have to go feed that dog."

For months, Mora fed the dog he named "Blackie" while he tried to find a home for the female Dalmatian/Border collie mix. Another animal rescuer bought her a coat, which was promptly stolen.

After dozens of calls and lots of persistence, Mora got his wish last week when the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals drove Blackie to her new owner in Philadelphia.

"I'm so happy," Mora said. "I heard this is a good home."

Blackie's happy ending was the result of a cooperative effort between several animal rescue groups.

United Action for Animals paid to board Blackie at Run Spot Run on the upper East Side for several weeks, while dozens of groups in the Mayor's Alliance searched for a home. Last Wednesday, the Mayor's Alliance van — driven by volunteer Joe Pastore — picked up Blackie.

"This shows the power of one individual who won't give up on an animal paired with the resources of the alliance," said Jane Hoffman, president of the Mayor's Alliance.

Since the group purchased the van last November, it has helped move more than 300 unwanted animals to new homes.

The alliance also helps ease overcrowding at city animal shelters by placing homeless animals with smaller rescue groups and foster homes, which then help find them permanent homes.

Hoffman is hoping sponsors will step up and help them purchase additional vans to transfer even more animals.

Meanwhile, the group is working with advocates on a pilot project that would allow homeless people in shelters with their pets.

It's not clear if Blackie's owner refused shelter because he didn't want to abandon his four-legged companion. Many homeless people decline to enter shelters because they can't bring their pets along.

"We want to make sure the whole family gets sheltered," Hoffman said.